Systems and methods for monitoring physiological parameters

ABSTRACT

Described herein are systems and methods for mounting optical sensors in physiological monitoring devices worn by a user to sense, measure, and/or display physiological information. Optical sensors may be mounted in the rear face of the device, emit light proximate a targeted area of a user&#39;s body, and detect light reflected from the targeted area. The optical sensor may be mounted in a housing or caseback such that at least a portion of the optical sensor protrudes a distance from at least a portion of the housing. The protrusion distance may be adjustable such that a user may achieve a customized fit of the wearable device. Adjustment of the protrusion distance may also result in a customized level of contact and/or pressure between the optical sensor and the targeted area which may, in turn, result in more reliable and accurate sensing of physiological information.

This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/468,916, filed Aug. 26, 2014, which claims the benefit ofpriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/976,388, filedApr. 7, 2014, both of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The embodiments relate generally to systems and methods that usenon-invasive electro-optical technology for sensing and measuringphysiological parameters and, more specifically, systems and methods forenhancing the accuracy and/or reliability of wearable devices configuredto sense and/or measure physiological parameters.

BACKGROUND

Many portable devices have been developed in which optical sensors areused to detect variation in blood flow through arteries or blood volumein subcutaneous tissue. Applications include the monitoring of heartrate, glucose level, apnea, respiratory stress, and other physiologicalconditions. The optical sensors often comprise one or more light sourcesthat illuminate a targeted portion of the human body and one or moreassociated optical detectors that receive a portion of the opticalenergy emitted by the light sources.

There are two basic types of such arrangements. In transmissive sensorarrangements, a relatively thin portion of the body such as the tip ofthe finger or the earlobe is positioned between a light source and aphoto detector. Light that passes through the body tissue impinges onthe photo detector resulting in an electrical signal that issynchronized to each heartbeat. In reflective sensor arrangements, asensor that includes one or more light sources located in spaced apartjuxtaposition with a photo detector is positioned against a targetedarea of the body. Optical energy emitted by the light sources passesthrough the skin of the targeted tissue region, is scattered, partiallyabsorbed, and is reflected by blood flowing through arteries and othervascular structure. The reflected optical energy is in effect modulatedin accordance with blood flow in the targeted area and detected by thephoto detector. The detected reflection can then be used to produce asignal pulse that is indicative of a physiological parameter such as aheartbeat. In both transmissive and reflective arrangements, the signalproduced by the photo detectors is processed to display or otherwiseprovide a real-time indication of the monitored physiological parameter.

One area of growing interest in the use of physiological monitors iswith respect to personal wellness and/or physical exercise for purposesof fitness training, weight loss, or monitoring general health.Technological advances relating to optical sensors, signal processing,and display devices have made it possible to realize small, light-weightphysiological monitors that can be embodied as devices that may becomfortably worn by a user. Such wearable devices may include, forexample, wrist watches, bracelets, and arm bands.

Providing physiological monitors for wellness and physical exerciseapplications is subject to numerous design and manufacturingconsiderations. For example, the electronic circuitry for processing thesignal produced by the photo detector and displaying an indication ofthe monitored parameter must operate at a low power level to provideadequate battery life while simultaneously providing sufficientaccuracy. Constraints relating to the physical design of such monitorsare not limited to the challenges of packaging the electronics anddisplay units in an arrangement that can be easily and comfortably wornby a user. Special considerations and constraints are present withrespect to incorporation of the optical sensor. For example, the lightsources and photodiode of the optical sensor must be optically isolatedfrom one another. Otherwise, the photo detector will receive opticalenergy that is not modulated by a user's heartbeat, which can result inan unwarranted increase in electrical design requirements and/orseriously affect monitoring accuracy and power requirements. Similarly,optimal performance requires that the optical sensor be firmlypositioned against the user's skin so that light emitted by a lightsource may pass through the skin and, additionally, so that ambientlight does not reach an associated photo detector. Firmly positioningthe optical sensor against the user's skin also is important withrespect to preventing movement of the sensor that can affect theaccuracy of the monitoring device and/or interrupt its operation.Additionally, the optical sensor should be securely retained by themonitoring device to maintain physical integrity and facilitatesatisfactory waterproofing of the entire monitor.

Because of the above mentioned design and manufacturing considerations,as well as others that are known to designers and manufacturers, a needexists for improved techniques for incorporating optical sensorarrangements in physiological monitoring devices. Moreover, improveddevice and techniques are needed to ensure the accuracy, reliability,and durability of such devices.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In accordance with certain embodiments of the present disclosure,optical sensor arrangements suited for use in physiological monitoringdevices that are used for physical training, exercise, and/or generalwellness monitoring are disclosed. In one aspect, the optical sensorarrangement may comprise one or more optical sensor light sources and/orphoto detectors. In one embodiment, the one or more light sources and/orphoto detectors may be mounted in one or more transparent lenses thatmay be installed in a portion of a monitoring device configured forplacement in contact with a user's skin. In a further embodiment, themonitor may be a wrist watch, bracelet, or arm band comprising one ormore light sources and/or photodetectors. In such an embodiment, thelight sources may comprise two or more spaced apart light emittingdiodes (LEDs). Each photo detector may be, for example, a photodiode. Inparticular, each photodiode may be positioned between a correspondingpair of LEDs.

In another aspect, the LEDs and the photodiode(s) may be positioned byand mounted to a printed circuit board. In one embodiment, the printedcircuit board may be installed in the interior of the monitor and thelenses may be installed in the monitor caseback. Portions of thecaseback may extend outward to contact the printed circuit in a regionbetween the LEDs and the photodiode to prevent light emitted by the LEDsfrom being directly detected by the photodiode. In some embodiments, apliant opaque layer of tape or sponge-like material may be positioned onthe printed circuit board such that the outwardly extending portions ofthe caseback may contact the opaque layer to further ensure opticalisolation of the photodiode.

In a further aspect, portions of the caseback may extend inwardly tocontact the skin of a user wearing the monitor. In one embodiment, oneor more inwardly extending portions of the caseback may be adjustablesuch that a desirable pressure or contact may be achieved between theuser's body and the caseback. For example, the inwardly extendingportion of the caseback may be manually or automatedly manipulated toadvance toward the user's skin to create sufficient pressure between themonitor caseback and the user's body. In this manner, more accurate andreliable monitoring of one or more physiological parameters may beachieved.

Additional objects and advantages of the present disclosure will be setforth in part in the description which follows, and in part will beobvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of thedisclosure. The objects and advantages of the disclosure will berealized and attained by means of the elements and combinationsparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are illustrative and explanatory onlyand are not restrictive of the claims.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate several embodiments and togetherwith the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 2 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 3 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative embodiment of a computing system asdescribed herein.

FIG. 5A depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 5B depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 6 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 7 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 8 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 9 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

FIG. 10 depicts some aspects of an illustrative embodiment of anapparatus as described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Disclosed herein are embodiments of an apparatus for sensing, measuring,and displaying physiological information. In one aspect, the apparatusmay comprise an optical sensor incorporated into a wearable device. Theoptical sensor may be incorporated at a location of the wearable devicesuch that, in use, a surface of the optical sensor may be adjacent or inclose proximity to a targeted area of a user's body. In one embodiment,the optical sensor may comprise one or more light sources for emittinglight proximate the targeted area and one or more optical detectors fordetecting reflected light from the targeted area.

In another aspect, the optical sensor may be incorporated into thewearable device such that at least a portion of the optical sensor mayprotrude or extend beyond at least a portion of a device housing. Insome embodiments, a height which the portion of the optical sensor mayextend beyond the device housing may be adjustable. The adjustment ofthe protrusion height may be manually performed by the user, automated,or manually in some aspects and automated in other aspects.

In a further aspect, by allowing a user to customize the protrusionheight associated with the optical sensor, a customized fit of thewearable device may be achieved. Moreover, a desirable level of contactand/or pressure between the inward facing surface of the optical sensorand the targeted area may be achieved. This, in turn, may result in morereliable and accurate sensing, measuring, and displaying ofphysiological information.

In one embodiment, the physiological information may be heart rateinformation. In other embodiments, the physiological information may beblood pressure information. Alternatively, the physiological informationmay be any information associated with a physiological parameter derivedfrom information received by the wearable device. Regardless, thephysiological information may be used in the context of, for example,athletic training, physical rehabilitation, patient monitoring, and/orgeneral wellness monitoring. Of course, these examples are onlyillustrative of the possibilities and the device described herein may beused in any suitable context.

While the systems and devices described herein may be depicted as wristworn devices, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the systemsand methods described below can be implemented in other contexts,including the sensing, measuring, and display of physiological datagathered from a device worn at any suitable portion of a user's body,including but not limited to, other portions of the arm, otherextremities, the head, and/or the chest.

Reference will now be made in detail to certain illustrativeembodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like items.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative embodiment of an apparatus 100. In oneaspect, apparatus 100 may be a physiological monitor worn by a user tosense, collect, monitor, and/or display information pertaining to one ormore physiological parameters. In the depicted embodiment, apparatus 100may comprise a wrist watch. In alternative embodiments, apparatus 100may be a bracelet or an arm band. In further embodiments, apparatus 100may be any wearable monitor device configured for positioning at auser's wrist, arm, another extremity of the user, or some other area ofthe user's body.

In another aspect, apparatus 100 may comprise an optical sensor assembly210 (depicted in FIG. 2) and components for processing and displayingone or more physiological parameters of a user and/or other informationthat may or may not be related to exercise, physical training sessions,or general wellness. For example, in one embodiment, apparatus 100 maysense, process, and/or display heart rate information. In a furtheraspect, apparatus 100 may house a display unit 110 for displaying orotherwise conveying information to the user. In one embodiment, displayunit 110 may comprise a dot matrix liquid crystal display. Inalternative embodiments, display unit 110 may comprise some othersuitable display.

In a further aspect, apparatus 100 may comprise a casing 120 and one ormore bands 130 extending from opposite edges of casing 120 for securingapparatus 100 to the user. In one embodiment, band(s) 130 may comprisean elastomeric material. In alternative embodiments, band(s) 130 maycomprise some other suitable material, including but not limited to, afabric or metal material.

Apparatus 100 may further comprise one or more switches 140 operable foraccepting input from the user. Switches 140 may comprise any suitabledevice for accepting input from the user including, but not limited to,a switch, button, touchscreen, or sensor. FIG. 1 depicts a pair ofopposing switches 140, one positioned on either side of casing 120.Other embodiments, however, may comprise fewer or additional switches.Moreover, the switches may be located at any suitable location onapparatus 100.

In further embodiments, switches 140 may be incorporated into displayunit 110. For example, switches 140 may comprise “soft” buttonsconfigured to accept input from the user via a touchscreen.

In another aspect, the user may manipulate switches 140 for setting thetime display, establishing the operational mode of the heart ratemonitor, and/or otherwise configuring/interacting with apparatus 100during use.

Casing 120 may further comprise switch indicators for providing the userinformation regarding each switch. In one embodiment, casing 120 maycomprise words and/or symbols such as “set,” “toggle,” “timer,” “+,” and“HR” corresponding to the switches and providing the user with anindication of a function that may be achieved by manipulation of therespective switch. Of course, the switch indicators depicted in FIG. 1are only illustrative of the possibilities. Casing 120 may comprise no,fewer, additional, or alternative indicators.

Display unit 110 may further comprise one or more small icons forconveying information to the user. In one embodiment, the one or moreicons may be located in an upper portion of display 110 to indicateoperational and/or conditional aspects of apparatus 100. For example, anicon 150 may be illuminated whenever the watch is energized to indicatebattery condition; an icon 152 may be illuminated when display 110indicates the time of day; an icon 154 and 156 may be illuminated whenapparatus 100 is operating in the exercise mode and/or the user's heartrate is being displayed; and an icon 158 may be illuminated whenapparatus 100 is operating in the exercise mode and the exerciseduration is being recorded. Additionally, the user's heart rate may bedisplayed in a central region 160 of display 110 in the same displayregion displaying time when used as a conventional watch. Of course, theaforementioned examples of icons 150-160, each icon's function, depictedappearance, and/or respective position within display unit 110 are onlyillustrative of the possibilities. Fewer, additional, or alternativeicons and/or icon locations are also possible.

Apparatus 100 may also comprise a communication status indicator 170.Status indicator 170 may comprise an outward facing light sourceviewable by the user when the watch is in use. In one aspect, the lightsource may comprise one or more lights, such as LEDs. In one embodiment,the light source may comprise a plurality of LEDs, each of a differentcolor. In this manner, the color of the LED illuminated may conveyadditional information to a user regarding the communication status ofapparatus 100. In another aspect, when apparatus 100 is in communicationwith another device via a suitable communication channel, such asBluetooth communication, status indicator 170 may illuminate light of afirst color. Where apparatus 100 is in communication with another devicevia some alternative communication channel, status indicator 170 mayilluminate light of a second color. Alternatively, or additionally,status indicator 170 may illuminate light of another color when ongoingcommunication with another device is terminated and/or apparatus 100ends or initiates an operational state. Again, these examples are onlyillustrative of the possibilities and status indicator 170 mayilluminate one or more light sources corresponding to one or more colorsto indicate or convey any suitable information to the user. For example,where apparatus 100 may be configured to monitor the user's heart rate,indicator 170 may illuminate light of a first color when the user'sheart rate is in a first numerical range, illuminate light of a secondcolor when the user's heart rate is in a second numerical range, andilluminate light of a third color when the user's heart rate is in athird numerical range. In this manner, a user may be able to detect hisor her approximate heart rate at a glance, in instances when numericalheart rate information is not displayed at display unit 110, and/orthrough his or her peripheral vision.

FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of an illustrative embodiment of apparatus100. In one aspect, apparatus 100 may comprise a caseback 220. Caseback220 may be secured to apparatus 100 using any suitable attachment systemor method. For example, caseback 220 may be secured to apparatus 100 byone or more screws 225 or some other suitable attachment mechanismincluding, but not limited to, mating recesses and protrusions, acompression fitting, and/or an epoxy/glue.

Caseback 220 may further comprise one or more optical sensors 210 asdescribed herein. Specifically, optical sensor 210 may comprise one ormore light sources 230. As depicted in FIG. 2, the optical sensor maycomprise two light sources 230 that are spaced apart from one another.Alternative embodiments may comprise fewer or additional light sources.In the depicted arrangement, each light source 230 includes one or moreLEDs 232 that may be contained in a respective lens 234. In that regard,it should be noted that lens 234 may not necessarily be the same as, norreplace, the integral lens of a conventional LED, which is configured tocause emitted light to pass from an end surface of the device. Locatedbetween and/or positioned adjacent or proximate to light sources 230 maybe one or more optical detectors 240. In FIG. 2, optical detector 240may comprise a photodiode 242 that may be contained by a lens 244. Whilethe embodiment depicted in FIG. 2 comprises a single photodiode,alternative embodiments may comprise additional optical detectors and/orphotodiodes positioned within caseback 220. Moreover, while apparatus100 depicted in FIG. 2 may comprise a single optical sensor 210,alternative embodiments may comprise multiple optical sensors, eachsensor comprising one or more light sources and/or optical detectors.

In some embodiments, lenses 234 and 244 may comprise a mineral glass ora plastic that exhibits a high degree of optical transmission atwavelengths of the optical energy emitted by LEDs 232. In alternativeembodiments, lenses 234 and 244 may comprise some other suitablematerial. In some instances it may be possible to form lens 234 and 244from material that imparts a filtering effect to the lenses. Forexample, ambient light that reaches photodiode 242 may be noise that canaffect the operation and/or accuracy of a physiological parametermonitor. In embodiments in which LEDs 232 emit light sufficientlyremoved from the infrared region, apparatus 100 may comprise lenses thatblock a portion of incident infrared energy to thereby decrease theeffect of any ambient light that may pass between caseback 220 and theuser's tissue. In still further embodiments, one or more of lenses 234and 244 may comprise an epoxy layer or encasement poured or placed intocaseback 220 rather than a glass or plastic lens. Such an epoxy layermay be pre-formed or formed with a respective light source or opticaldetector positioned within caseback 220. In such embodiments, the epoxylayer may be separated from the respective LED 232 or photodiode 242 bya barrier or by space. Alternatively, the epoxy may completely orpartially encase the respective LED 232 or photodiode 242.

In another aspect, caseback 220 may be configured such that the opticalsensor may be in contact or urged firmly against the skin when apparatus100 is worn by a user. In that regard, caseback 220 may include a raisedportion 250 that may project inwardly from the surface of caseback 220.In a further embodiment, located in raised portion 250 may be a furtherraised portion 260. The raised and further raised portions may serve toadequately urge the optical sensor against the user's skin. In someembodiments, the surface of LED lenses 234 and optical detector lens 244may be substantially flush with or extend slightly above the surface ofthe further raised portion 260. Of course, in other embodiments,caseback 220 may comprise only one of raised portion 250 and furtherraised portion 260. In further embodiments, caseback 220 may notcomprise either of raised portion 250 or further raised portion 260.Alternatively, caseback 220 may comprise additional raised portions.Moreover, while FIG. 2 depicts raised portion 250 as a substantiallyelliptical region and further raised portion 250 as a substantiallycircular raised portion, other suitable shapes of the raised portionsare possible and the depicted embodiments should not be construed tolimit the possibilities.

In a further aspect, how far one or both of raised portion 250 andfurther raised portion 260 may project inwardly from caseback 220 may beadjustable so as to selectively achieve a desired pressure or level ofcontact between the optical sensor and the user's skin. In oneembodiment, how far one or both of raised portion 250 and further raisedportion 260 may inwardly project from caseback 220 may be adjustedmanually through user manipulation of apparatus 100. In otherembodiments, the height or inward projection of one or both of raisedportion 250 and further raised portion 260 may be automatedly adjusted,prior to or during use, to a predetermined projection height/distance ora predetermined level of contact with the user's skin. Manual andautomated adjustment of raised portion 250 and further raised portion260 are described in more detail below with respect to FIGS. 5-9.

FIG. 3 depicts an illustrative embodiment of an inner surface ofcaseback 220, i.e., a surface closest to a targeted area of a user'sbody when apparatus 100 is in use) prior to the installation of lightsources 230 (comprising, for example, LEDs 232 and lenses 234) andoptical detector 240 (comprising, for example, photodiode 242 and lens244). In one aspect, the inner surface of caseback 220 may comprise oneor more recesses 310. Recesses 310 may extend outwardly toward an outersurface of caseback 220 for receiving lenses 234. The interior of eachrecess 310 may be shaped to substantially correspond with the exteriorconfiguration of a lens 234. An opening 320 may be located at the bottomof each recess 310 for receiving an LED 232. Each opening 320 may besmaller than the cross-sectional area of the associated recess 310 sothat a radially-inward extending ledge 330 may be formed around thelower periphery of the recess 310. When an LED lens 234 is inserted inrecess 310, the bottom of the lens may come into abutment with ledge 330and the inner face of the lens (i.e., the face closest to the targetedarea of the user when apparatus 100 is in use) may be flush with, orproject slightly beyond, the inner surface of caseback 220.Alternatively, the inner face of the lens may be slightly below, ordepressed in relation to, the inner surface of caseback 220.

In another aspect, the inner surface of caseback 220 may comprise arecess 340. Recess 340, similar to recesses 310, may extend outwardlytoward an outer surface of caseback 220 for receiving optical detectorlens 244. In one embodiment, the configuration of recess 340 maycorrespond to that of recesses 310 in that the interior wall of recess340 may be configured to substantially correspond with the exteriorconfiguration of optical detector lens 244. An opening 350 may belocated at the bottom of recess 340 for receiving a photodiode 242.Opening 350 may be smaller than the cross-sectional area of recess 340so that a radially-inward extending ledge 360 may be formed around thelower periphery of recess 340. When an optical detector lens 244 isinserted in recess 340, the bottom of the lens may come into abutmentwith the ledge and the inner face of the lens (i.e., the face closest tothe targeted area of the user when apparatus 100 is in use) may be flushwith, or project slightly beyond, the inner surface of caseback 220.Alternatively, the inner face of the lens may be slightly below, ordepressed in relation to, the inner surface of the caseback.

In a further aspect, recesses 310 and 340 may establish the position ofLED lenses 234 relative to optical detector lens 244. This, in turn, mayestablish the distance between each LED 232 and photodiode 242. Further,recesses 310 and 340 may be positioned to ensure that sufficient lightemitted by LEDs 232 may reach photodiode 242 after being reflected bythe user's body, e.g., the blood flowing through the user's arteriesand/or other vascular structure. Of course, the particular location ofrecesses 310 and 340 shown in FIG. 3 is only illustrative and any othersuitable location of one or more of the recesses may be possible.

In one aspect, the inner surface of caseback 220 may be contoured tosubstantially correspond with the wrist or forearm of the user. In oneembodiment, openings 370 for threaded fasteners 225 (as shown in FIG. 2)may be located in caseback 220 to secure caseback 220 to casing 120(shown in FIGS. 1 and 2).

FIG. 4 depicts an illustrative processor-based computing system 400representative of the type of computing system that may be present in orused in conjunction with any aspect of apparatus 100 comprisingelectronic circuitry. For example, processor-based computing system 400may be used in conjunction with any one or more of transmitting signalsto and from the optical sensor, sensing or detecting signals received atthe optical sensor, processing received signals, and storing,transmitting, or displaying information. Computing system 400 isillustrative only and does not exclude the possibility of anotherprocessor- or controller-based system being used in or with any of theaforementioned aspects of apparatus 100.

In one aspect, system 400 may include one or more hardware and/orsoftware components configured to execute software programs, such assoftware for storing, processing, and analyzing data. For example,system 400 may include one or more hardware components such as, forexample, processor 405, a random access memory (RAM) module 410, aread-only memory (ROM) module 420, a storage system 430, a database 440,one or more input/output (I/O) modules 450, an interface module 460, andan optical sensor module 470. Alternatively and/or additionally, system400 may include one or more software components such as, for example, acomputer-readable medium including computer-executable instructions forperforming methods consistent with certain disclosed embodiments. It iscontemplated that one or more of the hardware components listed abovemay be implemented using software. For example, storage 430 may includea software partition associated with one or more other hardwarecomponents of system 400. System 400 may include additional, fewer,and/or different components than those listed above. It is understoodthat the components listed above are illustrative only and not intendedto be limiting or exclude suitable alternatives or additionalcomponents.

Processor 405 may include one or more processors, each configured toexecute instructions and process data to perform one or more functionsassociated with system 400. The term “processor,” as generally usedherein, refers to any logic processing unit, such as one or more centralprocessing units (CPUs), digital signal processors (DSPs), applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays(FPGAs), and similar devices. As illustrated in FIG. 4, processor 405may be communicatively coupled to RAM 410, ROM 420, storage 430,database 440, I/O module 450, interface module 460, and optical sensormodule 470. Processor 405 may be configured to execute sequences ofcomputer program instructions to perform various processes, which willbe described in detail below. The computer program instructions may beloaded into RAM for execution by processor 405.

RAM 410 and ROM 420 may each include one or more devices for storinginformation associated with an operation of system 400 and/or processor405. For example, ROM 420 may include a memory device configured toaccess and store information associated with system 400, includinginformation for identifying, initializing, and monitoring the operationof one or more components and subsystems of system 400. RAM 410 mayinclude a memory device for storing data associated with one or moreoperations of processor 405. For example, ROM 420 may load instructionsinto RAM 410 for execution by processor 405.

Storage 430 may include any type of storage device configured to storeinformation that processor 405 may need to perform processes consistentwith the disclosed embodiments.

Database 440 may include one or more software and/or hardware componentsthat cooperate to store, organize, sort, filter, and/or arrange dataused by system 400 and/or processor 405. For example, database 440 mayinclude user profile information, historical physiological parameterinformation, predetermined menu/display options, and other userpreferences. Alternatively, database 440 may store additional and/ordifferent information.

I/O module 450 may include one or more components configured tocommunicate information with a user associated with system 400. Forexample, I/O module 450 may comprise one or more buttons, switches, ortouchscreens to allow a user to input parameters associated with system400. I/O module 450 may also include a display including a graphicaluser interface (GUI) and/or one or more light sources for outputtinginformation to the user. I/O module 450 may also include one or morecommunication channels for connecting system 400 to one or moreperipheral devices such as, for example, a desktop computer, a laptop, atablet, a smart phone, a flash drive, or a printer, to allow a user toinput data to or output data from system 400.

Interface 460 may include one or more components configured to transmitand receive data via a communication network, such as the Internet, alocal area network, a workstation peer-to-peer network, a direct linknetwork, a wireless network, or any other suitable communicationchannel. For example, interface 460 may include one or more modulators,demodulators, multiplexers, demultiplexers, network communicationdevices, wireless devices, antennas, modems, and any other type ofdevice configured to enable data communication via a communicationnetwork.

Optical sensor module 470, described in more detail above, may compriseoptical sensor 210 and related circuitry. In one embodiment, in additionto transmitting and receiving information from optical sensor 210,optical sensor module 470 may be configured to receive signals from, oroutput signals to, other components or modules of system 400.

FIG. 5A depicts a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of apparatus100 comprising caseback 220 and optical sensor 210. In one embodiment,apparatus 100 may comprise a first circuit board 510. First circuitboard 510 may support, among other things, optical sensor 210, includingone or more light sources 230 (comprising, for example, LEDs 232 andlenses 234) and/or optical detectors 240 (comprising, for example,photodiode 242 and lens 244). Circuit board 510 may also serve toelectrically connect one or more components of optical sensor 210 toother devices and/or circuitry within apparatus 100. As depicted, one ormore components of optical sensor 210 may be located on a single circuitboard 510. Alternative embodiments, some of which are described below,may comprise a plurality of circuit boards in communication with oneanother and/or each comprising one or more discrete components ofoptical sensor 210. In such embodiments where circuit board 510 maycomprise a plurality of discrete circuit boards, information sent to andreceived from LEDs 232 and photodiode 242 may be communicated via one ormore wired, wireless, or electrical contact communication channels.

In another aspect, one or more placement posts 515, located withinapparatus 100 and extending through or about circuit board 510 maymaintain circuit board 510 in a fixed position relative to all or aportion of caseback 220. In one embodiment, placement posts 515 may becylindrical in shape and may be located so as to form a rectangularpattern extending vertically within caseback 220. In alternativeembodiments, placement posts 515 may exhibit some other suitable shapeand/or may be positioned in another arrangement for ensuring properpositioning of circuit board 510.

In an embodiment where one or more components of optical sensor 210 arelocated on circuit board 510, proper placement of circuit board 510within caseback 220 may, in turn, ensure proper positioning of one ormore optical sensors components, e.g., LEDs 232 and/or photodiode 242,with respect to caseback 220 and/or corresponding LED lenses 234 and/oroptical detector lens 244.

In a further aspect, FIG. 5A depicts one possible manner in whichoptical sensor 210 may be incorporated in caseback 220. In oneembodiment, LED lenses 234 may be inserted and sealed in recesses 310(shown in FIG. 3). As previously indicated, the lower surface of eachlens 234 may be in abutment with ledge 330 and the light-emittingsurface of each lens 234 may be substantially flush with, or extendslightly above or below, the surface of further raised portion 260.

In a similar manner, optical detector lens 244 may be inserted andsealed in recess 340 (shown in FIG. 3). In one embodiment, the lowersurface of lens 244 may be in abutment with ledge 360 and thelight-receiving surface of lens 244 may be substantially flush with, orextend slightly above or below, the surface of further raised portion260.

A number of techniques may be used for bonding LED lenses 234 andoptical detector lens 244 to caseback 220. For example, depending inpart on the material used for caseback 220 and the respective lenses,the lenses may be bonded in place by a curable adhesive, ultrasonicbonding, or other techniques. In some applications, insert molding orcold-molding techniques may be employed.

In one aspect, LEDs 232 and photodiode 242 may pass into openings 320and 350, respectively, so that LEDs 232 may be contained by lenses 234and photodiode 242 may be contained by optical detector lens 244. In oneembodiment, openings 320 for receiving LEDs 232 may be smaller than therecesses 310 for receiving LED lenses 234. Similarly, opening 350 forreceiving photodiode 242 may be smaller than recess 340 for receivingthe optical detector lens 244. In this manner, each combination of LED232 and LED lens 234 may be physically and optically separated fromphotodiode 242 and optical detector lens 244 by a respective barrier 520that may extend downwardly from further raised portion 260 of caseback220 to the base of LEDs 232 or photodiode 242, or the upper surface ofcircuit board 510.

In a further embodiment, each barrier 520 may comprise an invertedT-shaped barrier. As is shown in FIG. 5A, the radially-inner edges ofLED lenses 234 may be separated from the radially-outer edges of opticaldetector lens 244 by an upwardly extending leg of T-shaped barrier 520and the radially-inner edges of LEDs 232 may be separated from theradially-outer edges of photodiode 242 by a laterally extending lowerleg of the T-shaped barrier 520. Of course, the T-shaped barrier is onlyone illustrative embodiment of barrier 520 and, in alternativeembodiments, barrier 520 may be any suitable shape for isolating LEDs232 and photodiode 242.

In still a further embodiment, a relatively thin strip of opaque pliantmaterial 525 (such as, but not limited to, a tape or a sponge-likepolymer) may be in contact with, press against, and/or extend betweenthe lower surface of barrier 520 and the upper surface of circuit board510. In another embodiment, opaque strips 525 may be in contact with,press against, and/or extend between the radially outer edges ofphotodiode 242 and the adjacent edges of LEDs 234.

Opaque strips 525 may prevent light emitted by LEDs 232 from travellingalong the surface of circuit board 510 and reaching photodiode 242,i.e., ensure that light emitted by LEDs 232 does not reach photodiode242 without being reflected by a targeted region of the user.Alternative embodiments may comprise a non-transparent epoxy or someother material in addition to, or instead of, opaque strips 525.

In another aspect of the embodiment depicted at FIG. 5A, first circuitboard 510 may be positioned above and/or spaced apart from an uppersurface of a second circuit board 530. Circuit board 530 may includecircuitry (not shown) for performing one or more functions of apparatus100, including but not limited to, detecting and displaying a user'sheart rate, the time of day and other information. In other embodiments,first circuit board 510 and second circuit board 530 may be a singlecircuit board. For example, a single flexible circuit board may beflexed or bent into a substantially “U shape” such that each opposingextension of the “U” may comprise flexible circuit board 510 and 530,respectively.

One or more placement posts 535, located within apparatus 100 andextending through or about circuit board 530 may maintain circuit board530 in a fixed position relative to all or a portion of apparatus 100.In one embodiment, placement posts 535 may be cylindrical in shape andmay be located so as to form a rectangular pattern extending verticallywithin apparatus 100. In alternative embodiments, placement posts 535may exhibit some other suitable shape and/or may be positioned inanother arrangement for ensuring proper positioning of circuit board530. Proper placement of circuit board 530 within apparatus 100 may, inturn, ensure proper positioning of circuit board 530 with respect tocircuit board 510 and/or ensure reliable communication between circuitboard 530 and circuit board 510.

In a further aspect, circuit board 510 and circuit board 530 may be inwired, wireless, or electrical contact with one another to facilitatethe exchange of signals/information between them. In one embodiment,circuit board 510 may comprise one or more downwardly extending pogopins 540 mounted to the lower surface of circuit board 510 and extendingso as to contact the upper surface of circuit board 530. In anotherembodiment, circuit board 530 may comprise one or more upwardlyextending pogo pins 540 mounted to the upper surface of circuit board530 and extending so as to contact the lower surface of circuit board510. In alternative embodiments, one or more electrical communicationchannels may be established between circuit boards 510 and 530 usingsome other means, such as one or more flexible circuits or tapescomprising embedded wiring. In further embodiments, any suitableconnection for establishing electrical communication between circuitboards 510 and 530 may be used.

In another aspect of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5A, raised portion250 and further raised portion 260 may comprise discrete components ofapparatus 100. In one embodiment, apparatus 100 may be configured toallow for the inward and outward movement of further raised portion 260with respect to raised portion 250. In such embodiments where furtherraised portion 260 may house optical sensor 210 and its variouscomponents, a degree of contact and/or pressure established between thecomponents of optical sensor 210 and the user may be adjusted.

In a further embodiment, further raised portion 260 may be threadedlymated with raised portion 250 such that the rotation of further raisedportion 260 with respect to raised portion 250 in a first direction(e.g., counter-clockwise) may result in the movement of further raisedportion 260 (and optical sensor 210) toward the user, i.e., achievesgreater contact or pressure between sensor 210 and the targeted area ofthe user's body. Conversely, rotation of further raised portion 260 withrespect to raised portion 250 in an opposite direction (e.g., clockwise)may result in the movement of further raised portion 260 (and opticalsensor 210) away from the user, i.e., reduced contact or pressurebetween sensor 210 and the targeted area of the user's body.

In a further aspect, optical sensor 210, including one or more of itscomponents, and/or circuit board 510 may rotate in conjunction withfurther raised portion 260. In one embodiment, the separation betweencircuit boards 510 and 530 and/or the presence of pogo pins 540 mayfacilitate continuous electrical contact between circuit boards 510 and530 during such rotation, i.e., the height of pogo pins 540 maycorrespondingly increase or decrease as the distance between circuitboards 510 and 530 increase or decrease.

Moreover, in an embodiment in which one or more pogo pins 540 may bemounted to the lower surface of circuit board 510 and extend to a pointof contact with the upper surface of circuit board 530, circuit board530 may comprise circular or annular contact strips corresponding toeach pogo pin to ensure that each pogo pin is in constant electricalcontact with circuit board 530, regardless of the rotational positioningof sensor 210 and/or circuit board 510. An embodiment of circuit board530 comprising a contact region 542 a and annular contact strips 542 band 542 c, each corresponding to the location of a respective pogo pin540 (depicted in FIG. 5A) is depicted in FIG. 5B. Of course, such anembodiment is only illustrative of one possibility. Other embodimentsmay comprise pogo pins 540 mounted to the upper surface of circuit board530 and extending to a point of contact with the lower surface ofcircuit board 510. In such an embodiment, the aforementioned annularcontact strips may reside on the lower surface of circuit board 510rather than the upper surface of circuit board 530. In alternativeembodiments, rather than pogo pins, apparatus 100 may comprise someother suitable electrical connections between circuit boards 510 and530.

In another aspect, the rotation of further raised portion 260 (and/oroptical sensor 210) relative to raised portion 250 may be performedmanually by the user or in an automated fashion. In one embodiment, theuser can physically manipulate further raised portion 260 in order torotate it with respect to raised portion 250 and/or the remainder ofcaseback 220. In such an embodiment, further raised portion 260 maycomprise tactile ridges or a textured surface to allow the user toadequately grip the periphery of further raised portion 260. Such atextured surface may be advantageous when apparatus 100 is used in thecourse of physical exercise and may become wet from the user'sperspiration. Alternatively, further raised portion 260 may be rotatedusing a mating tool. For instance, further raised portion 260 maycomprise a depression (not shown) configured to mate with an instrumentthe user may insert into the depression to facilitate rotation offurther raised portion 260. Of course, these example are onlyillustrative of the possibilities and any suitable mechanism forperforming manual rotation of further raised portion 260 with respect toraise region 250 and/or the remainder of caseback 220 may be used.

Regardless of the mechanism, in such embodiments, a user may selectivelydetermine the protrusion height of further raised portion 260, i.e., thedistance from the inner surface of further raised portion 260 (thesurface in contact with the targeted area of the user's skin) and theinner surface of raised portion 250. The greater the protrusion height,the greater the contact or pressure may be between sensor 210 and thetargeted area of the user's body. The less the protrusion height, theless the contact or pressure may be between sensor 210 and the targetedarea of the user's body. Moreover, because the size and shape of users'wrists, arms, or other extremities may vary, one subset of users mayfind it beneficial for apparatus 100 to exhibit a relatively lowprotrusion height of further raised portion 260, while another subset ofusers may find it advantageous for apparatus 100 to exhibit a relativelyhigh protrusion height of further raised portion 260. It should also bementioned that although the depicted embodiments describe raising orlowering the protrusion height of further raised portion 260 withrespect to raised portion 250, this disclosure should be understood toencompass designs that comprise only a single raised portion, theprotrusion height of which may be varied with respect to the innersurface of caseback 220. Every embodiment need not comprise both araised portion and a further raised portion.

In other embodiments, the rotation of further raised portion 260 withrespect to raised portion 250 and/or caseback 220 may be automated. Insuch an embodiment, a motor may be coupled to further raised portion soas to achieve the aforementioned rotation. This may be achieved, amongother ways, using one or more gears and/or shafts/axles. Where therotating action may be automated, a user may predetermine a desiredlevel of contact of pressure to be achieved between sensor 210 and thetargeted area of the user's body. Before or after securing apparatus tothe targeted area using bands 130, the motor may activate and causefurther raised portion 260 to rotate toward or away from the user'sbody. The motor may continue to rotate further raised portion until alevel of contact or pressure with the targeted area of the user's bodyis too great for further raised portion 260 to advance further.Alternatively, the motor may rotate further raised portion to apredetermined protrusion height that may or may not correspond with anestimate level of contact or pressure. In still further embodiments, theinner surface of further raised portion 260 or optical sensor 210 maycomprise a pressure sensor that may be positioned adjacent the targetedarea of the user's body and signals the motor to cease rotation when adesired or predetermined level of contact or pressure is achievedbetween optical sensor 210 and the targeted area.

Additionally, the initiation or activation of the motor and,consequently, the rotation of further raised portion 260 may becontrolled by the user or automated. For instance, the user may initiatethe motor through manipulation of one or more of switches 140 (shown inFIG. 1). Alternatively, activation of the motor may occur automaticallywhen apparatus 100 enters into a physiological parameter monitoringmode, e.g., a heart rate monitoring mode. The user may also have theability to stop the motor and/or the rotation of further raised portion260 using similar means or by exiting a physiological parametermonitoring mode.

Moreover, the user may be afforded an opportunity to select apredetermined protrusion height of further raised portion 260 or a levelof contact or pressure between optical sensor 210 and the targeted areaof the user's body through the manipulation of one or more inputs ofapparatus 100 (e.g., one or more switches 140) in conjunction with oneor more menus that may be incorporated into the user interface ofapparatus 100 (e.g., display 110 or a remote display device).

FIG. 6 depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of apparatus100. In one aspect, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6 may besubstantially similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5A. In theembodiment of FIG. 6, however, further raised portion 260 may becomprised of a central portion 610 and an adjustment ring 620. Inparticular, adjustment ring 620 may comprise a radially outer ring orannular body encircling or surrounding central portion 610.

In another aspect, a radially inner surface of adjustment ring 620 maybe in contact with a radially outer surface of central portion 610. Theradially inner surface of adjustment ring 620 and the radially outersurface of central portion 610 may be substantially smooth to allowcentral portion 610 to slide or translate with respect to adjustmentring 620. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, central portion 610 andadjustment ring 620 may enjoy at least two degrees of freedom withrespect to one another, i.e., they may slide or translate with respectto one another along their common interface (toward and away from thetargeted area of the user) and they may rotate with respect to oneanother.

In a further aspect, adjustment ring 620 may comprise a lip extendingradially inward and located at the inner surface of further raisedportion 260, i.e., the surface of further raised portion 260 closest orin contact with the targeted area of the user's body. Central portion610, on the other hand, may comprise a depression or recess 612 aroundits perimeter and located adjacent or proximate to the inner surface offurther raised portion 260. In this manner, and as shown in FIG. 6, lip622 of adjustment ring 620 may be positioned within recess 612 ofcentral portion 610.

In another aspect, one or more resilient members 630 may be positionedbetween circuit board 510 and circuit board 530. Resilient members 630may, among other things, serve to urge circuit board 510, optical sensor210, and/or central portion 610 of further raised portion 260 toward thetargeted area of the user's body. Central portion 610 (as well ascircuit board 510 and optical sensor 210) may be retained in apparatus100, however, by lip 622 of adjustment ring 620 of further raisedportion 260.

In one embodiment, one or more resilient members 630 may be a spring. Infurther embodiments, one or more resilient members may be a compressionspring, constant spring, variable spring, cantilever spring, helicalspring, leaf spring, or some other suitable spring. In such embodiments,the one or more springs may exhibit a predetermined spring constant (k)suitable for use in apparatus 100 and/or affording a proper amount ofresistance or contact pressure between lip 622 of adjustment ring 620and recess 612 of central portion 610 to ensure that further raisedportion 260/optical sensor 210 may advance toward the targeted area ofthe user's body as adjustment ring 620 advances toward the targetedarea.

Similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5A, the radially outersurface of adjustment ring 620 may be threadedly mated with raisedportion 250 such that the rotation of adjustment ring 620 with respectto raised portion 250 in a first direction (e.g., counter-clockwise) mayresult in the movement of adjustment ring 620 toward the user.Conversely, rotation of adjustment ring 620 with respect to raisedportion 250 in an opposite direction (e.g., clockwise) may result in themovement of adjustment ring 620 away from the user. Because centralportion 610 (as well as one or both of optical sensor 210 and circuitboard 510) may be spring urged against lip 622 of adjustment ring 620 byone or more resilient members 630, as adjustment ring 620 moves towardthe user (i.e., rotates in a first direction), central portion 610 andoptical sensor 210 may be urged toward the user. Thus, as adjustmentring 620 moves toward the user, greater contact or pressure betweensensor 210 and the targeted area of the user's body may be achieved.Conversely, as adjustment ring 620 moves away from the user (i.e.,rotates in a second direction), central portion 610 and optical sensor210 may be depressed (via lip 622) against the action of resilientmembers 630. Therefore, as adjustment ring 620 moves away from the user,less contact or pressure between sensor 210 and the targeted area of theuser's body may result.

As described above with respect to FIG. 5A, the rotation of adjustmentring 620 with respect to caseback 220 or raised portion 250 may beperformed manually or may be automated. In either case, optical sensor210 (and/or central portion 610 and circuit board 510) may not need torotate as adjustment ring 620 rotates. Thus, the annular contact ringsof circuit board 530 depicted in FIG. 5B may not be necessary. Rather, aconnection point between circuit board 530 and one or more pogo pins 540may remain fixed. Of course, rather than pogo pins, other embodimentsmay comprise a flexible circuit or tape to facilitate communicationbetween circuit boards 510 and 530. In still further embodiments, anyconnection type that allows for dynamic separation or spacing betweencircuit boards 510 and 530 may be implemented.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment ofapparatus 100. In one aspect, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7 may besubstantially similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5A. In theembodiment of FIG. 7, however, the interface between further raisedportion 260 and raised portion 250 may not be threaded. Rather, wherefurther raised portion 260 and raised portion 250 may be in contact, thesurfaces of further raised portion 260 and raised portion 250 may besubstantially smooth to allow further raised portion 260 to slide ortranslate in a direction toward or away from the targeted area of theuser with respect to raised portion 250.

In one aspect, further raised portion 260 may comprise a lip 262 at theouter surface of further raised portion 260, i.e., the surface closestto circuit board 510 and farthest from the targeted area of the user. Inone embodiment, lip 262 may extend radially outward from further raisedportion 260 so as to create an abutment surface 262 a at the innermost(closest to the targeted area) surface of lip 262.

In another aspect, raised portion 250 may comprise an opposing lip 252at the inner surface of raised portion 250, i.e., the surface positionedclosest to the targeted area of the user. Opposing lip 252 may extendradially inward from raised portion 250 so as to create an opposingabutment surface 252 a at the outermost (farthest from the targetedarea) surface of lip 252.

In a further aspect, and similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6,one or more resilient members 630 may be positioned between circuitboard 510 and circuit board 530. Resilient members 630 may, among otherthings, serve to urge circuit board 510, optical sensor 210, and/orfurther raised portion 260 toward the targeted area of the user's body.In one embodiment, one or more resilient members 630 may be a spring. Infurther embodiments, one or more resilient members may be a compressionspring, constant spring, variable spring, cantilever spring, helicalspring, leaf spring, or some other suitable spring. In such embodiments,the one or more springs may exhibit a predetermined spring constant (k)suitable for use in apparatus 100 and/or affording a proper amount ofresistance or contact pressure between further raised portion260/optical sensor 210 and the targeted area of the user's body.

The one or more resilient members may urge further raised portion 260(and/or circuit board 510 and optical sensor 210) inward toward thetargeted area. Further raised portion 260 (and/or circuit board 510 andoptical sensor 210) may be retained in apparatus 100, however, by anengagement or abutment of lip 262 of further raised portion 260 withopposing lip 252 of raised portion 250.

In this manner, when apparatus 100 is not being worn by a user and nopressure is applied to the inner surface of further raised portion 260by the targeted area of the user, further raised portion 260 may bespring urged away from circuit board 530 and retained in aninwardly-urged position by the engagement or contact between lip 262 offurther raised portion 260 and opposing lip 252 of raised portion 250.When apparatus 100 is in use, however, and the inner surface of furtherraised portion 260 may be in contact with (or pressed against) thetargeted area of the user's body, the contact or pressure between thetargeted area of the user and further raised portion 260 may compressone or more resilient members 630. This compression may, in turn, resultin an increasing level of contact or pressure between optical sensor 210(at the inner surface of further raised portion 260) and the targetedarea of the user's body.

Among the advantages to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, theadjustment of the protrusion height of further raised portion 260relative to the remainder of caseback 220 or raised portion 250 may beautomated, i.e., requires little or no intervention by the user apartfrom the user's securing of apparatus 100 to the targeted area of theuser via, for example, bands 130. For example, as the user securesapparatus 100 to the targeted area of the user, further raised portion260 and/or optical sensor 210 may come into contact with the user's bodyand compress resilient members 630. Nonetheless, the resilient membersspring urging of further raised portion 260 toward the user may resultin optical sensor 210 maintaining an adequate level of contact orpressure against the targeted area.

FIG. 8 depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of apparatus100. In one aspect, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8 may besubstantially similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7. In oneaspect, however, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8 may comprise anoptical sensor 210 comprising three discrete components: a pair oflateral components 810, 830 and an intermediate component 820. In oneembodiment, lateral component 810 may comprise a light source 230, e.g.,an LED 232 and an LED lens 234, lateral component 830 may similarlycomprise a light source 230, e.g., an LED 232 and an LED lens 234, andintermediate component 820 may comprise an optical detector 240, e.g., aphotodiode 242 and photodiode lens 244. In a further embodiment, each ofthe discrete components of optical sensor 210 may move toward or awayfrom the targeted area of the user's body independent of the othercomponents. In this manner, optical sensor 210 may contour to a uniqueuser's body and each discrete component of the optical sensor may bemore reliably secured against the targeted area.

In another aspect, circuit board 510, like optical sensor 210, may becomprised of a plurality of circuit boards. As shown, circuit board 510may comprise sub-boards 512, 514, and 516. Each of sub-boards 512, 514,and 516 may be substantially similar to circuit board 510 of otherembodiments. Moreover, sub-boards 512, 514, and 516 may be associatedwith one or more constituents of lateral component 810 (e.g., an LED 232and an LED lens 234), intermediate component 820 (e.g., a photodiode 242and photodiode lens 244), and lateral component 830 (e.g., an LED 232and an LED lens 234), respectively.

In another aspect, sub-boards 512, 514, and 516 may be positioned abovecircuit board 530 and substantially adjacent to one another. In someembodiments, sub-boards 512, 514, and 516 may be in wired, wireless, orother electrical communication with one another. In other embodiments,sub-boards 512, 514, and 516 may also or alternatively be in wired,wireless, or other electrical communication with circuit board 530.

In another aspect, each sub-board may be supported with respect tocircuit board 530 by one or more resilient members 630. In oneembodiment, resilient members 630 may be positioned between circuitboard 530 and a respective sub-board. In this manner, each of sub-boards512, 514, and 516 may be permitted to move toward and away from thetargeted area of the user's body, independent of the other sub-boards.Similar to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 5-7, a plurality ofrespective pogo pins may serve to transmit information from the discretecomponents of optical sensor 210 and its associated sub-board to othercomponents of apparatus 100 (e.g., circuit board 530) even as thespacing between circuit board 530 and the sub-boards vary in accordancewith the level of contact or pressure exerted on the inner surface ofoptical sensor 210 or further raised portion 260.

In a further aspect, resilient members 630 may, among other things,serve to urge each sub-board (as well as a respective, discretecomponent of further raised portion 260) toward the targeted area of theuser's body. Lateral components 810, 830 and intermediate component 820may be retained in apparatus 100 against the force of resilient members630 through a plurality of abutting and/or interlocking lips orrecesses.

In one aspect, the radially outer surface of lateral components 810 and830 may each comprise a lip 812 and 832, respectively. Lips 812 and 832may be substantially similar to lip 262 depicted in FIG. 7. Similar tothe embodiment depicted in FIG. 7, lips 812 and 832 may engage or abutlip 252 of raised portion 250 as lateral components 810 and 830 areurged away from circuit board 530 and no contact or pressure is appliedto the surface of optical sensor 210 facing toward the targeted area ofthe user.

In another aspect, the radially inner surface of lateral components 810and 830 may comprise a lip 814, 834, respectively. Lips 814 and 834 may,in some embodiments, extend from the radially inner surface of itsrespective lateral component and extend toward intermediate component820. In a further embodiment, the radially outer surface of intermediatecomponent 820 may comprise a recess 822 into which lips 814 and/or 834may extend. In this manner, discrete components 810, 820, and 830 may beretained within apparatus 100 against the force of one or more resilientmembers acting on one or more sub-boards 512, 514, and 516. Of course,in alternative embodiments, the radially inner surface of lateralcomponents 810 and 830 may comprise recesses and the radially outersurface of intermediate component 820 may comprise a lip extendingradially outward into the recesses.

As described with respect to other embodiments, one or more resilientmembers 630 may be a spring. In further embodiments, one or moreresilient members may be a compression spring, constant spring, variablespring, cantilever spring, helical spring, leaf spring, or some othersuitable spring. In such embodiments, the one or more springs mayexhibit a predetermined spring constant (k) suitable for use inapparatus 100 and/or affording a proper amount of resistance or contactpressure between each discrete component of optical sensor 210 and thetargeted area of the user's body.

In some embodiments, the spring constant (k) for the resilient membersassociated with each sub-board may vary. For example, resilient membershaving a higher spring constant (i.e., stiffer springs offering greaterresistance to depression) may be associated with one or both ofsub-boards/lateral portions 512/810 and 516/830 while resilient membershaving a lower spring constant (i.e., weaker springs offering lessresistance to depression) may be associated with sub-board/intermediateportion 514/820. Of course, other embodiments are also possible,including embodiments in which the intermediate portion may beassociated with a stiffer spring and one or more lateral components maybe associated with weaker springs.

When the embodiment of apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 8 is not beingworn by a user and/or no pressure is applied to the inner surface ofoptical sensor 210 or further raised portion 260 by the targeted area ofthe user, optical sensor 210 (including each of its discrete components)may be spring urged away from circuit board 530 and retained in aninwardly-urged position by the engagement or contact between lips 812,832, and 252 at the radially outer surface of optical sensor 210 and theengagement or contact between lips 814, 834 and recess 822 at theinterfaces between lateral components 810, 830 and intermediatecomponent 820.

When the embodiment of apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 8 is in use,however, and the inner surface of optical sensor 210 or further raisedportion 260 may be in contact with (or pressed against) the targetedarea of the user's body, the contact or pressure between the targetedarea of the user and one or more discrete components of optical sensor210 may serve to compress one or more resilient members 630. Thiscompression may, in turn, result in an increasing level of contact orpressure between the one or more discrete components of optical sensor210 and the targeted area of the user's body.

Among the advantages to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8, theadjustment of the protrusion height of each discrete component ofoptical sensor 210 relative to the remainder of caseback 220 or raisedportion 250 may be automated, i.e., requires little or no interventionby the user apart from the user's securing of apparatus 100 to thetargeted area of the user via, for example, bands 130. For example, asthe user secures apparatus 100 to the targeted area of the user, one ormore discrete components of optical sensor 210 may come into contactwith the user's body and compress corresponding resilient members 630.The resilient members' spring urging of the associated discretecomponent of optical sensor 210 against the user may result in therespective discrete component maintaining a desirable level of contactor pressure between the inner surface of optical sensor 210 and thetargeted area.

Moreover, because each discrete component of optical sensor 210 enjoysat least one degree of freedom with respect to the other discretecomponents and may be permitted to move toward or away from the targetedarea of the user independent of the other discrete components, opticalsensor 210 may contour to the targeted area. Thus, each discretecomponent of optical sensor 210 (i.e., lateral components 810, 830 andintermediate component 820) may be maintained in close contact with thetargeted area and, as a result, may provide more accurate or reliableinformation to apparatus 100 regarding the physiological parameter beingmeasured.

FIG. 9 depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of apparatus100. In one aspect, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9 may besubstantially similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 8. In oneaspect, however, circuit board 530 may be afforded at least one degreeof freedom and the ability to move toward and away from the targetedarea of the user's body in response to a level of contact or pressurebetween optical sensor 210 and the targeted area.

In one aspect, circuit board 530 may be coupled to, or otherwise incontact with, one or more resilient members 910. One or more resilientmembers 910 may be substantially similar to one or more resilientmembers 630 located between circuit board 530 and sub-boards 512, 514,and 516. Resilient members 910 may serve, among other things, to springurge circuit board 530 toward the targeted area of the user and allowcircuit board 530 to move toward the outer surface of caseback 220 inresponse to contact or pressure applied by the targeted area at theinner surface of optical sensor 210.

In another aspect, circuit board 530 may slide or translate alongplacement posts 535. Placement posts 535 may comprise a longitudinalshaft having a lip 537 at or proximate to an end of posts 535 nearestsub-boards 512, 514, and 516. Lip 537 may serve to retain circuit board530 on placement posts 535 against the force of resilient members 910.In other embodiments, placement posts 535 may comprise a pin or someother type of fixed or removable protrusion that may prevent circuitboard 530 from advancing toward sub-boards 512, 514, and 516 beyond thelength of posts 535. In further embodiments, placement posts 535 maycomprise any structure, feature, or component to adequately retaincircuit board 530 on posts 535 against the force of resilient members910.

Placement posts 535 may further comprise a similar lip 539 located alongthe longitudinal extension of placement posts 535 near or proximate tothe outermost surface of caseback 220 (i.e., the surface farthest fromthe targeted area of the user). Lip 539 may serve to provide a maximumdisplacement of circuit board 530 in response to a level of contact orpressure between the inner surface of optical sensor 210 and thetargeted area of the user. In other embodiments, placement posts 535 maycomprise a pin or some other type of fixed or removable protrusion thatmay prevent circuit board 530 from moving toward the outermost surfaceof caseback 220 beyond a desirable location. In further embodiments,placement posts 535 may comprise any structure, feature, or component toadequately prevent circuit board 530 from moving closer than a desirableminimum distance from the outermost surface of caseback 220. In stillfurther embodiments, placement posts 535 may have no lip, protrusion,structure, feature, or component for preventing circuit board 530 frommoving closer than a desirable minimum distance with the outermostsurface of caseback 220. Rather, the maximum deflection or compressionof resilient members 910 may serve to restrain circuit board 530 frommoving closer than a desirable minimum distance from the outermostsurface of caseback 220.

Similar to one or more resilient members 630, one or more resilientmembers 910 may be a spring. In further embodiments, one or moreresilient members 910 may be a compression spring, constant spring,variable spring, cantilever spring, helical spring, leaf spring, or someother suitable spring. In such embodiments, the one or more springs mayexhibit a predetermined spring constant (k) suitable for use inapparatus 100 and/or affording a proper amount of resistance or contactpressure between optical sensor 210 and the targeted area of the user'sbody.

In some embodiments, the spring constant (k) for one or more resilientmembers 910 may vary from the spring constant for one or more resilientmembers 630. For example, resilient members 910 may have a higher springconstant (i.e., stiffer springs offering greater resistance todepression) than resilient members 630 (i.e., weaker springs offeringless resistance to depression). In such embodiments, a first level ofcontact or pressure between the inner surface of optical sensor 210 andthe targeted area of the user may result in displacement only ofresilient members 630. At a second level of contact, however, (e.g.,when resilient members 630 have reached a maximumdeflection/depression), additional resistance and deflection may beafforded by resilient members 910. Of course, other embodiments are alsopossible, including embodiments in which one or more resilient members630 may be associated with a stiffer spring compared to one or moreresilient members 910.

When the embodiment of apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 9 is not beingworn by a user and/or no pressure is applied to the inner surface ofoptical sensor 210 or further raised portion 260 by the targeted area ofthe user, optical sensor 210 may be spring urged away from the outermostsurface of caseback 220 by a combination of resilient members 630 andresilient members 910. Optical sensor 210 and/or further raised portion260 may be retained in apparatus 100 in an inwardly-urged position in asimilar manner to that described above with respect to FIG. 8 (inembodiments where optical sensor 210 comprises three discretecomponents) or in a similar manner to that described above with respectto FIG. 7 (in embodiments in which optical sensor 210 does not comprisea plurality of independent components).

When the embodiment of apparatus 100 depicted in FIG. 9 is in use,however, and the inner surface of optical sensor 210 or further raisedportion 260 may be in contact with (or pressed against) the targetedarea of the user's body, the contact or pressure between the targetedarea of the user and the inner surface of optical sensor 210 may serveto compress one or more resilient members 630 and one or more resilientmembers 910. In an embodiments where the spring constant associated withone or more resilient members 910 may be greater than the springconstant associated with one or more resilient members 630, the user mayexperience a first level of resistance with respect to compression ofoptical sensor 210 and pressure at the targeted area up to a first levelof contact or pressure between the inner surface of optical sensor 210and the targeted area, and then a second level of resistance withrespect to compression of optical sensor 210 and pressure at thetargeted area. This increasing resistance may, in turn, result in anincreasing level of contact or pressure between the components ofoptical sensor 210 (e.g., LEDs 232/lenses 234 and photodiode 242/lens244) and the targeted area of the user's body.

Similar to the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8, the adjustment ofthe protrusion height of optical sensor 210 relative to the remainder ofcaseback 220 or raised portion 250 in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 9may be automated, i.e., requires little or no intervention by the userapart from the user's securing of apparatus 100 to the targeted area ofthe user via, for example, bands 130. For example, as the user securesapparatus 100 to the targeted area of the user, optical sensor 210 maycome into contact with the user's body and compress correspondingresilient members 630 and 910. The resilient members' spring urging ofoptical sensor 210 against the targeted area of the user may result in adesirable level of contact or pressure between the inner surface ofoptical sensor 210 and the targeted area.

It should be noted that the multi-level spring configuration (i.e.,embodiments comprising resilient members 630 and 910) depicted in FIG. 9may be implemented in conjunction with any other embodiment describedherein, including the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 6-8. Moreover,circuit board 530 may comprise one or more sub-boards similar to circuitboard 510 depicted in FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 10 depicts a cross-sectional view of another embodiment ofapparatus 100. In one aspect, the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10 may besubstantially similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7. In theembodiment of FIG. 10, however, apparatus 100 may comprise a band, astrap, a bracelet, or some other wearable device that may be worn at theuser's wrist, arm, or other extremity. For example, apparatus 100 maybe, but is not limited to, a fitness band, a health monitoring device,or an activity tracker. Moreover, optical sensor 210 may not bepositioned within a watch caseback or rigid housing of a wearabledevice. Rather, optical sensor 210 may be incorporated into a strap 1010of any wearable device.

In one embodiment, strap 1010 may comprise a pliable or flexiblematerial suitable for substantially conforming to a user's body. Forexample, strap 1010 may comprise a flexible polymer, silicone, orplastic material. Alternatively, strap 1010 may comprise a fabric orwoven material. In other embodiments, strap 1010 may be a rigid orsemi-rigid material, such as a plastic or metallic material, molded soas to substantially conform to the user's body. Strap 1010 may alsocomprise one or more layers such as an outer layer 1012 (i.e., a layerfarthest from the targeted area) and an inner layer 1014 (i.e., a layerclosest to the targeted area). In some embodiments, layers 1012 and 1014may be joined or bonded together using any suitable means, including butnot limited to, a glue, an epoxy, a bonding agent, or other suitablesubstances or objects. In other embodiments, strap 1010 may comprise asingle layer rather than two or more adjacent layers.

Regardless of the material(s) comprising strap 1010 and/or the number oflayers comprising strap 1010, strap 1010 may be formed so as to define acavity, aperture, or recess within which optical sensor 210 and/or araised portion 1020 may be positioned. One or more circuit boards mayalso be positioned within the cavity, aperture, or recess. As notedabove with respect to other embodiments, apparatus 100 may comprise twoor more circuit boards (e.g., circuit boards 510 and 530 depicted inFIGS. 5A and 6-9). FIG. 10 depicts an embodiment with only circuit board510, but should not be construed to exclude embodiments with additionalcircuit boards located within the cavity, aperture, or recess (e.g.,above, below, adjacent, or aside circuit board 510). It should also benoted that the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10 may comprise additionalcircuit boards located elsewhere along strap 1010. For example, theembodiment depicted in FIG. 10 may comprise a second circuit board 530positioned within a second cavity, aperture, or recess along strap 1010.Alternatively, some embodiments may comprise a second circuit board 530positioned at or near a buckle or latch at which two opposing portionsor ends of strap 1010 may be joined when apparatus 100 is in use. Inembodiments comprising two or more circuit boards, the boards may be incommunication with one another through any suitable wired or wirelesscommunication channel.

In one aspect, optical sensor 210 may be positioned within raisedportion 1020. Raised portion 1020 may be in contact and/or positionedwithin the cavity, aperture, or recess of strap 1010 such that raisedportion 250 may slide or translate in a direction toward or away fromthe targeted area of the user with respect to the cavity, aperture, orrecess.

In one embodiment, raised portion 1020 may comprise a lip 1022 at theouter surface of raised portion 1020, i.e., the surface closest tocircuit board 510 and farthest from the targeted area of the user. Inone embodiment, lip 1022 may extend radially outward from raised portion1020 so as to create an abutment surface 1022 a at the innermost(closest to the targeted area) surface of lip 1022.

In another aspect, strap 1010 may comprise an opposing lip 1016 at theinner surface of strap 1010, i.e., the surface positioned closest to thetargeted area of the user. Opposing lip 1016 may extend radially inwardfrom strap 1010 toward the cavity, aperture, or recess so as to createan opposing abutment surface 1016 a at the outermost (farthest from thetargeted area) surface of lip 1016.

In a further aspect, and similar to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 7,one or more resilient members 630 may be positioned between an outerportion of strap 1010 and circuit board 510. FIG. 10 depicts tworesilient members. Other embodiments, however, may comprise fewer oradditional resilient members.

Resilient members 630 may, among other things, serve to urge circuitboard 510, optical sensor 210, and/or raised portion 1020 toward thetargeted area of the user's body. In one embodiment, one or moreresilient members 630 may be a spring. In further embodiments, one ormore resilient members may be a compression spring, constant spring,variable spring, cantilever spring, helical spring, leaf spring, or someother suitable spring. In such embodiments, the one or more springs mayexhibit a predetermined spring constant (k) suitable for use inapparatus 100 and/or affording a proper amount of resistance or contactpressure between raised portion 1020/optical sensor 210 and the targetedarea of the user's body.

The one or more resilient members may urge raised portion 1020 (and/orcircuit board 510 and optical sensor 210) inward toward the targetedarea. Raised portion 1020 (and/or circuit board 510 and optical sensor210) may be retained in apparatus 100, however, by an engagement orabutment of lip 1022 of raised portion 1020 with opposing lip 1012 ofstrap 1010.

In this manner, when apparatus 100 is not being worn by a user and nopressure is applied to the inner surface of raised portion 1020 by thetargeted area of the user, raised portion 1020 may be spring urged awayfrom the outer portion of strap 1010 and retained in an inwardly-urgedposition by the engagement or contact between lip 1022 of raised portion1020 and opposing lip 1016 of strap 1010. When apparatus 100 is in use,however, and the inner surface of raised portion 1020 may be in contactwith (or pressed against) the targeted area of the user's body, thecontact or pressure between the targeted area of the user and raisedportion 1020 may compress one or more resilient members 630. Thiscompression may, in turn, result in an increasing level of contact orpressure between optical sensor 210 (at the inner surface of raisedportion 1020) and the targeted area of the user's body.

Among the advantages to the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10, theadjustment of the protrusion height of raised portion 1020 relative tothe inner surface of strap 1010 may be automated, i.e., may requirelittle or no intervention by the user apart from the user's securing ofapparatus 100 to the targeted area of the user via, for example, ajoinder of opposing portions of strap 1010. For example, as the usersecures apparatus 100 to the targeted area of the user, raised portion1020 and/or optical sensor 210 may come into contact with the user'sbody and compress resilient members 630. Nonetheless, the resilientmembers spring urging of raised portion 1020 toward the user may resultin optical sensor 210 maintaining an adequate level of contact orpressure against the targeted area.

It should be noted, however, that although the mechanisms depicted inFIG. 10 for adjustment of the protrusion height of optical sensor 210may be substantially similar to those depicted in FIG. 7, any of thefeatures of any of the aforementioned embodiments (e.g., any of theembodiments described with respect to FIGS. 5-9) may be incorporatedinto an embodiment substantially similar to the embodiment depicted inFIG. 10. Thus, some embodiments of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 10 maycomprise a threaded interface between raised portion 1020 and strap 1010such that the protrusion height of raised portion 1020 relative to strap1010 may be controlled through a rotation of raised portion 1020. Otherembodiments may comprise an adjustment ring positioned, for example,between raised portion 1020 and strap 1010, substantially similar to theadjustment ring depicted in FIG. 6. In still further embodiments of theapparatus depicted in FIG. 10, optical sensor 210 may comprise two ormore portions, the protrusion height of each may be adjustedindependently of the others, substantially similar to the independentoptical sensor portions depicted in FIG. 8. One or more layers ofresilient members, such as those depicted in FIG. 9, may also beimplemented in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10.

While illustrative embodiments have been illustrated and described, itwill be appreciated that various changes can be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Moreover, thevarious features of the embodiments described herein are not mutuallyexclusive. Rather any feature of any embodiment described herein may beincorporated into any other suitable embodiment.

Additional features may also be incorporated into the described systemsand methods to improve their functionality. For example, those skilledin the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced with avariety of physiological monitoring devices, including but not limitedto heart rate and blood pressure monitors, and that various lightemitting and photo detecting devices may be employed. The devices may ormay not comprise one or more features to ensure they are water resistantor waterproof. Some embodiments may of the devices may hermeticallysealed.

In some embodiments, it may be appropriate to use one or more lensesthat are configured for receiving more than one optical sensor in asingle lens and/or to use one or more lenses that are configured forreceiving more than one light source in a single lens. Furthermore,while FIGS. 1-9 depict a number of watch-like embodiments, otherembodiments may comprise fewer, additional, or alternative featuressimilar to fitness bands and/or other wearable devices for physiologicalmonitoring (e.g., the embodiment depicted in FIG. 10).

Other embodiments of the aforementioned systems and methods will beapparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of thespecification and practice of this disclosure. It is intended that thespecification and the aforementioned examples and embodiments beconsidered as illustrative only, with the true scope and spirit of thedisclosure being indicated by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for detecting a physiologicalparameter of a user, the apparatus comprising: a housing comprising anoptical sensor and at least one circuit board coupled to the opticalsensor, a portion of the housing configured for placement proximate auser's wrist; an attachment mechanism for securing the housing to theuser's wrist, the optical sensor comprising at least one light sourceand at least one optical detector, the optical sensor configured forplacement adjacent the user's wrist, at least a portion of the opticalsensor extending a protrusion distance beyond the portion of the housingtoward the user's wrist, wherein the protrusion distance is adjustable,and wherein the optical sensor portion is threadedly mated with the baseportion such that rotation of the optical sensor portion in a firstdirection increases the protrusion distance and rotation of the opticalsensor portion in a second direction decreases the protrusion distance,and wherein rotation of the optical sensor portion causes rotation of atleast a portion of the at least one circuit board.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the optical sensor comprises more than one light sourceor more than one optical detector.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, theapparatus further comprising: a first planar extension of the at leastone circuit board and a second planar extension of the at least onecircuit board, the first planar extension spaced apart from the secondplanar extension; and a plurality of electrical connections extendingbetween the first planar extension and the second planar extension. 4.The apparatus of claim 3, wherein one or more of the plurality ofelectrical connections are pogo pins.
 5. The apparatus of claim 3,wherein rotation of the optical sensor portion causes the first planarextension of the at least one circuit board to rotate with respect tothe second planar extension of the at least one circuit board.
 6. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the optical sensor portion comprises acentral portion and an adjustment ring, the adjustment ring comprisingan annular body encircling the central portion.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 6, wherein the rotation of the optical sensor portion in the firstand second directions comprises rotating the adjustment ring independentof the central portion.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprisingone or more resilient members configured to urge the central portiontoward the user's wrist.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein theadjustment ring comprises a radially inward extending lip configured toretain the central portion within the optical sensor portion against aforce exerted by the one or more resilient members.
 10. An apparatus forsensing a physiological parameter of a user, the apparatus comprising: acaseback comprising a base portion and an optical sensor, the opticalsensor configured for placement proximate a user's wrist and coupled toat least one circuit board comprising a first planar extension and asecond planar extension, wherein at least a portion of the opticalsensor protrudes beyond the base portion in a direction toward theuser's wrist, a distance the optical sensor protrudes beyond the baseportion being adjustable, and wherein adjustment of the optical sensormodifies a distance between the first and second planar extensions ofthe circuit board.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the opticalsensor comprises at least one light source and at least one opticaldetector.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the optical sensor isin communication with the base portion via one or more electricalchannels.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an annularportion encircling the optical sensor, the distance the optical sensorprotrudes beyond the base portion being adjustable based, at least inpart, on a rotation of the annular portion.
 14. The apparatus of claim13, further comprising a plurality of resilient members urging theoptical sensor in the direction toward the user's wrist.
 15. Anapparatus for monitoring a physiological parameter of a user, theapparatus comprising: a base portion; an annular portion; and a centralportion comprising an optical sensor and a first planar extension of acircuit board, the optical sensor configured for placement proximate auser's wrist, wherein a height of the central portion relative to thebase portion is adjustable based, at least in part, on a rotation of theannular portion, and wherein the rotation of the annular portion adjustsa distance between the first planar extension of the circuit board and asecond planar extension of the circuit board.
 16. The apparatus of claim15, wherein the annular portion comprises a lip extending radiallyinward from an inner surface of the annular portion, the lip at leastpartially overlapping the central portion.
 17. The apparatus of claim16, wherein the central portion comprises a recess at a radially outeredge of the central portion, the lip at least partially overlapping therecess.
 18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising at least oneresilient member urging the central portion against the lip.
 19. Theapparatus of claim 18, wherein the rotation of the annular portion is atleast partially automated.